DofE Silver/Gold Practice at Dartmoor

On the 5^th April, 11 intrepid Year 11 and 12 girls set off to Dartmoor in order to train for their Silver and Gold expeditions. After long hours in the minibus, we arrived at the Plume of Feathers, Princetown, for a hot meal and kit check before settling down for a final sleep in a real bed. Despite forecasts of snow, we were treated to three lovely days of sunshine (although it was quite blustery on the exposed moorland) and all the girls hiked well, learning lots about navigation in wild country. Meeting up in the ruins of a settlement for lunch, the girls then learned about first aid, role playing a number of accidents. After the first day the Gold group had navigated particularly well and so were set free to lead themselves over the next two days whilst under supervision from a nearby hilltop, whilst the Silver group took advantage of two mountain leaders for some extra navigation training. Finally, on the third day, all converged at the minibus for lunch in the sun before heading home – many having a well-earned nap on the way! Well done to all who took part; we look forward to our assessed expedition in July.

Mr Coley